CONEWAGO VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD POLICY

Transcription

1 CONEWAGO VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD POLICY No. 115 Section: Programs Title: Acceptable Use of Computers, Networks, and the Internet Date Adopted: February 25, 2013 Section 1: Purpose: The Conewago Valley School District supports the educational use of the Internet and other computer networks in the District's instructional programs to facilitate learning and teaching through communication and access to information and research. The Internet offers unique and diverse resources to students and employees. The goal in providing these services to employees and students for educational purposes is to promote educational excellence in schools by resource sharing, innovation, and communication. Student use of the District s Internet system will be governed by this policy, related District and school regulations, and the student disciplinary code. Employee use will be governed by this policy, related District and school regulations, and District employment policy. The use of the Internet and the District's computer network facilities are to be consistent with the District curriculum as well as the varied instructional needs, learning styles, abilities, and development levels of students. Students may not use the system for personal commercial purposes, including offering or purchasing products or services. Employees may use the system for personal commercial purposes if such use is extremely limited. Employees may use the District Internet system for communications related to collective bargaining and union organization activities. The District will provide professional development opportunities for teachers to help them learn how to use the Internet effectively for instructional purposes, disseminate Internet-based lesson plans, and provide technical and instructional support to students. Student use and activities will be structured in a manner that is appropriate to the age and skills of students, recognizing the importance of providing more secure environments for younger students and supporting safe and responsible independent use by older students. Teachers will be encouraged and supported in the utilization of classroom web-based tools and sites, such as but not limited to, web pages, blogs, wikis, and web sites that will direct students to information or activities pertinent to current studies or assigned activities utilized by the teacher. All Web links to the classroom activities by the teacher should be prescreened by the teacher to ensure such sites are appropriate in light of the age of the students and relevance to the course objectives. The District and teachers will seek to limit student exposure to commercial advertising and product promotion, especially advertising or promotion of youth-oriented products and services, in the development and utilization of web tools or other assignments that make use of the Internet.

2 Programs: Acceptable Use of Computers, Networks, and the Internet Pg. 2 For students at the elementary school level, grades K-6, access to information on the Web will generally be limited to access available through the student research resources or through classroom Web sites. Any student access to material outside such pre-screened sites will be closely supervised by the teacher For students at the secondary school level, grades 7-12, information on the Web should generally be thorough the student research resources or through classroom Web tools and sites. Students may access other sites upon approval by their teacher. The District will establish or authorize the use of a controlled communications environment that will allow the students to communicate electronically for educational purposes. Such communications may include, but not be limited to, use of Moodle, Google Apps tools, , chat, and blogging. Teachers will be responsible for reviewing, modeling, and instilling appropriate use policy habits within their students while using computers and the network as part of the classroom. The school district will educate all students about appropriate online behavior, including interacting with other individuals on social networking websites and in chat rooms and cyberbullying awareness and response. Section 2: Definitions: Educational purpose includes use of the information technology tools, network facilities, and Internet access for classroom activities, professional or career development, and to support the school district s curriculum, policy, and mission statement. Obscene material which: to the average person, applying contemporary community standards, appeals to the prurient interest; depicts or describes in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct described by law to be obscene; and taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, educational or scientific value. Child pornography - any visual depiction, including any photograph, film, video, picture or computer or computer-generated image or picture, whether made or produced by electronic, mechanical, or other means, of sexually explicit conduct where: (1) the production of such visual depiction involves the use of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct; (2) such visual depiction is a digital image, computer image, or computer-generated image that is, or is indistinguishable from, that of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct; or (3) such visual depiction has been created, adapted, or modified to appear that an identifiable minor is engaging in sexually explicit conduct. 18 Pa. C.S.A. Sec U.S.C U.S.C Network facilities (network): 1. District-owned computer hardware and software, electronic connections, electronic devices and other electronic devices used for information processing, as well as peripheral devices connected to these tools. 2. Network bandwidth provided by the district including Internet bandwidth and other devices necessary to facilitate network connectivity such as services, fileservers, routers, switches, hubs, firewalls, premise wiring network data ports, wireless connections, etc.

3 Programs: Acceptable Use of Computers, Networks, and the Internet Pg Electronic Devices include any district-owned, leased or licensed or user-owned electronic devices, software or other technology used on district premises or at district events, or connected to the district network, containing school district programs, or district or student data (including images, files and other information) attached or connected to, installed in or otherwise used in connection with a computer. Technology equipment includes, but is not limited to, district and users : desktop, notebook, powerbook, tablet PC or laptop computers, servers, firewalls,/security systems, distance learning equipment, videoconference units, printers, facsimile machine, cables, modems, and other peripherals, specialized electronic equipment used for students special education purposes, Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment, personal digital assistants (PDAs), ipods, MP3 players, USB/jump drives, cell phones, with or without Internet access and/or recording and/or camera/video and other capabilities and configurations, telephones, mobile phones, or wireless devices, two-way radios/telephones, beepers, paging devices, laser pointers and attachments and any other such technology developed. Telecommunications any system that allows users access to a wide variety of information from electronic networks found on local, state, national and international databases, Internet or intranet servers and other information technology tools. Examples include, but are not limited to, Internet technologies, , Internet-based discussion groups and bulletin boards. Vandalism is defined as any malicious attempt to harm or destroy hardware, software, or data of another user, the Internet, or other networks. This includes, but is not limited to, the uploading or creation of computer viruses. Section 3: Authority: All computer and network use must be in compliance with the policies and procedures established by the Conewago Valley School District. The electronic information available to students and staff via the Internet does not imply endorsement of the content by the District, nor does the District guarantee the accuracy of information received on the Internet. The policy represents the District s good faith efforts to promote the safe, ethical, responsible, and legal use of the Internet, support the effective use of the Internet for educational purposes, protect students against potential dangers in their use of the Internet, and ensure accountability. The District has the right to place restrictions on use to ensure that use of the system is in accord with its limited educational purposes. The District shall not be responsible for any information that may be lost, damaged, or unavailable when using the network or for any information that is received via the Internet. The District shall not be responsible for any unauthorized charges or fees resulting from access to the Internet. The District reserves the right to log and to monitor network use and fileserver space utilization by users. The Conewago Valley School District establishes that the use of the Internet is a privilege, not a right. Inappropriate, unauthorized, or illegal use may result in cancellation of those privileges and may result in appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion and/or legal action. Section 4: Guidelines: The use of the computer, network account, and the Internet must be in support of education and research consistent with the educational purposes of the Conewago Valley School District. Network accounts may be used only by the authorized owner of the account and for its intended and authorized purpose. Network users shall respect the privacy and rights of other users on the system. The District has taken measures to meet the FCC Federal Internet Filtering Regulations required by the Children s Internet Protection Act (CIPA)..

4 Programs: Acceptable Use of Computers, Networks, and the Internet Pg. 4 The use of the District network and/or the internet in an inappropriate, illegal, or unethical manner is prohibited. Prohibited uses include, but are not limited to, the following use of the Internet, electronic devices, or network: to facilitate illegal activity, for commercial or financial gain, political lobbying, or product advertisement. for and communication that is not District or educationally relatedfor hate mail, discriminatory remarks, or offensive or inflammatory communication. to access obscene or pornographic material. to transmit material likely to be offensive or objectionable to the recipient to obtain or modify files, passwords, or data belonging to other users or to misrepresent other users on the network(s) or the Internet. for fraudulent copying, communication, or modification of materials or software in violation of copyright laws and license agreements. Any data uploaded or downloaded from the network(s) shall be subject to fair use guidelines. Teachers may download information from the Web that is necessary for classroom instructional purposes and provide this information to students who do not have Internet access. This information may be provided either in hard-copy form or through a computer system without live access to the Internet. for loading or use of unauthorized games, program files, or other electronic media. for destruction, modification, or abuse, including but not limited to hacking, of network hardware and/or software. to post information that, if acted upon, would cause damage or danger or disruption to the District, a school, or any other organization or person. to engage in personal attacks, including neither prejudicial or discriminatory attacks, nor will users bully or harass other persons. to knowingly or recklessly post false or defamatory information about a person or organization. All substitute and student teachers must sign an acknowledgement that they have read and understand their responsibilities with regard to supervising students in the use of the District s network systems. Students will promptly disclose to their teacher or another school employee any message they received from any other student that is in violation of the restrictions on inappropriate language students should not delete such messages until instructed to do so by an employee. Employees will notify the building administrator who will contact the system administrator. Teachers will ensure the protection of student personal information when establishing any relationship with a third party site or system. Such accounts can be established when: The establishment of the account is necessary to achieve an identified educational purpose Student personal information and student use data will not be collected, analyzed, or used for commercial advertising or marketing purposes. A minimum amount of information is collected for the purpose of establishing the account, and no personal contact information is provided. The third party system has committed to maintain the privacy of any information provided. The third party system provides a process by which employees and/or parents may access, review, and remove their child s account information.

5 Programs: Acceptable Use of Computers, Networks, and the Internet Pg. 5 Section 5: Due Process: Due process rights of all users will be respected in the event there is a suspicion of inappropriate use of the District network. Users have limited privacy expectations in the contents of their personal files and records on computers, the network(s) and of their online activity In the event of an allegation that a student has violated this policy the student will be provided with notice and an opportunity to be heard in the manner set forth in the student disciplinary code. In the event of an allegation that an employee has violated this policy, the employee will be provided with notice and an opportunity to be heard and represented with regard to the allegation(s). Users or parents of users will indemnify and hold the District harmless from any losses sustained as a result of misuse of the network by that user. Use of network by students will be limited to those students whose parents have signed an AUP form. Section 6: Delegation of Responsibility: The Superintendent or his/her designee(s) shall be responsible for the development of procedures for implementation of this policy and to establish rules and regulations for the district s electronic devices, network and Internet to insure they are cost effective, educationally justified, and age appropriate and that none of the aforementioned are not being used for purposes prohibited by law. Per District Policy No. 229, the use of personal electronic devices is permitted on Districtdesignated networks only. All use of personal electronic devices must be in accordance with District Policy No All users of registered personal devices who connect to permitted wireless networks agree to the requirements of the Acceptable Use Policy and should consider his/her personal device subject to the same level of monitoring and access as any District-owned electronic device. The District reserves the right to monitor Internet and network use on District guest networks. Connection of personal devices directly to the hardwired LAN is prohibited. Section 7: Security and Safety: Security on any computer system is a high priority, especially when the system involves many users. If it appears that there is a security problem on the network(s) it is necessary to notify the system or school administrator at once. Users may not use a computer that has been logged in under another student or employee name. Any user identified as a security risk or having a history of problems with other computer systems may be denied access to the network(s). The District has the right to restrict or terminate access to the network(s) at any time. It also has the right to monitor computer and network activity to maintain the integrity of the District s network. (moved from consequences section) The Superintendent or his/her designee(s) have the right to access and view all communications and information, including the contents of employees/student user directories, folders, and files accessible via any electronic device or network access. User access to the District Internet system will require the use of an account name and password to enable individual users to be identified. Elementary students may use the Internet through a classroom user account and password. Users are expected to not reveal personal addresses, telephone numbers, passwords, or other private information. Use of the Internet or network(s) will be permitted only when a student and parent/guardian sign a statement indicating that they understand the District network policies and procedures and agree to abide by them and accept the consequences for prohibited use. In addition, students and employees who want to bring their own devices must adhere to the District s Electronic Devices Policy, 229.

6 Programs: Acceptable Use of Computers, Networks, and the Internet Pg All system users have a limited privacy expectation in the contents of their personal files on District systems. The Superintendent, or his/her designee(s), must be provided with user employees/student passwords for routine maintenance and monitoring of the system, including communications to and from the District. This may lead to the discovery that the user has or is violating the District acceptable use policy, the discipline policy, or the law. The District has taken measures to meet the FCC Federal Internet Filtering Regulations required by the Children s Internet Protection Act (CIPA). The Conewago Valley School District makes no warranties of any kind whether expressed or implied for the network/internet service. The District will not be responsible for damages suffered such as loss of data resulting from delays, non-deliveries, service interruptions, or personal errors or omissions. Use of any information obtained via the Internet is at the user s risk. Students and employees should work well ahead of deadlines to avoid Internet access difficulties. The District will monitor student and employees use of the Internet through regular analysis of Internet usage. The District will provide technological protection measures that will seek to block user access to certain sites (filtering software), block inappropriate material from being sent to District users, ensure the security of the District network, and monitor Internet use. District filtering software will always be configured in accordance with the Children s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) to protect against access to material that is obscene, child pornography, and material that is harmful to minors, as defined by the Children s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). District filtering will apply to all District and non-district owned devices on the District network. Changes or requests by teachers for content related access to sites blocked due to filtering may be made directly to the Technology Coordinator and Supervisor of Special Programs. The determination of whether material is appropriate or inappropriate shall be based on the content of the material and the intended use of the material, not on the protective actions of the filtering software. Individual search of a user s must be approved by the District administrator responsible for supervision of the individual student the Superintendent or his/her designee shall approve a search of an employee . In the event an individualized search is conducted, a record will be established detailing the reason for the search, the extent of the search, and the results. The District utilizes an Internet records retention system to archive District for a period of seven (7) years. Disclaimer The Conewago Valley School District makes no warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, for the network or technology services provided. The district is not responsible for any damages or costs incurred, including loss of data resulting from data delivery delays, missed deliveries, or financial obligations incurred through the use of Internet web sites. The District will not be responsible for damages or costs incurred as a result of internet use to non-district devices. Use of any information obtained through the District s technology devices and non-technology owned devices is at the user s risk. The district disclaims responsibility for the accuracy or quality of information obtained through the Internet or other forms of telecommunications. The district will not be responsible for the support or service of non-district equipment. Section 8: Consequences for Inappropriate Use: The network user will be responsible for damages to the District s electronic devices, network and software resulting from deliberate or willful acts.

7 Programs: Acceptable Use of Computers, Networks, and the Internet Pg General rules for behavior, ethics, and communications apply when using the network, electronic devices and the Internet. Loss of access, other disciplinary actions per student code of conduct, and/or referral to legal authorities may be consequences of inappropriate use. Illegal use of the network, electronic devices, Internet and, intentional deletion or damage of files or data belonging to others, copyright violations, or theft of services may be reported to the appropriate legal authorities for possible prosecution. Vandalism may result in the cancellation of access privileges and/or referral to legal authorities.

8 Conewago Valley School District Acceptable Use Policy Student/Parent Signature Document NOTE: Please read the Acceptable Use of Computers, Networks, and the Internet document carefully before signing this form Access to the Conewago Valley School District computer network is available to students of the Conewago Valley School District. Students will have access to the District network through computer labs and classroom computers. When using the District computers/network/internet or any other technology students will abide by the District Acceptable Use Policy for students. Signatures below indicate that the student and parents/guardian have read the entire Acceptable Use Policy for students and will abide by its conditions. You further understand that any violation of the regulations is unethical and may constitute a criminal offense. Should the student commit any violation, his/her access privileges may be revoked, school disciplinary action and/or appropriate legal action may be taken. Or, in the case of K-3 students, I am a parent of a child in grades K-3 and I have read and talked with my child about the Student Acceptable Use Policy and I understand and have explained the policy to my child Student Name: (please print) Building: Student Signature: (Any student entering grades 4-12 must provide their signature indicating they have read the policy). Date: Parent Signature: (Parent/Guardian signature required for all students K-12) Date: All students (grades 4-12) are required to provide their permanent student password below. This password MUST include letters and numbers and must be at least 8 characters long. Avoid using the student s name or date of birth in the password. Students in grades K-3 will be assigned a password. Student Name: (Please print) ID # School Building: Grade: Student Password: (At least 8 alpha-numeric characters; no special characters or blanks) PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM TO YOUR HOMEROOM TEACHER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

9 CONEWAGO VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT Employee Network/Internet User Agreement Note: All employees are expected to know and understand the District Acceptable Use Policy as it applies to them and to their students. Access to the Conewago Valley computer network facilities and Internet is available to employees of the Conewago Valley School District. Employees will have access to the network facilities and Internet through employee assigned work stations, computer labs and classroom computers. When using the District technology tools, network facilities/internet or any other Electronic devices employees will abide by the Acceptable Use Policy 115 and the Electronic Devices Policy 229 Use of the network(s) facilities will be permitted only when an employee has signed a statement indicating that he/she understands the District s Acceptable Use Policy and agrees to abide by it and accept the consequences for prohibited use. If you would like to access the district s wireless network to use your personal electronic devices while at school, please complete the information below to register the device. Signature below indicates that I have read and understand my expectations and responsibilities with regard to the Acceptable Use Policy and will abide by the conditions found within the policy. In addition, I understand that I am responsible for reading and following expectations with regard to the district Policy #229 (Electronic Device Policy) for any personal devices I register on this Employee User Agreement. Employee Name: (please print) Building: Employee Signature: Date: Personal Electronic Devices: Type of Device Mac ID. (ex: Apple laptop, ipad tablet, etc.) Type of Device Mac ID